As Rose's former bandmates Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler and Matt Sorum were on stage collecting the award, presenter Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day asked the audience who was missing, prompting a reaction of boos.

Armstrong said to the audience: "Most singers are crazy, I can vouch for that. He is one of the best front men to ever touch a microphone. Sometimes you have to look back at chapters of your life to move forward."

Axl Rose became the first person to snub the awards event since the Sex Pistols failed to attend in 2006.

Rod Stewart also had to cancel his appearance with The Faces due to illness, with Simply Red's Mick Hucknall coming in to perform with the band in his absence.